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The Conductor and the Orchestra

During the McDonald Cadet Leadership Conference, we sat amongst the members of West Point’s legendary Military Band and explored the principles of effective leadership through music. As powerful songs swelled around us, we were struck by the sense of connection between the conductor and each of the individual band members. In order to produce a harmonious sound, every flick of the conductor’s wrist and every movement of his eyebrows communicated with the band. The result was inspirational.

In stark contrast, the disparate notes echoing from the halls of Washington have created dissonance not only within our borders but also around the world. The global scope of our media channels has amplified this discord and worldwide headlines reveal serious doubt not only in American political leadership, but also in the underlying principles that govern this nation. The melody of American democratic pragmatism has been overtaken by radicals blaring too loudly, interest groups falling out of sync, and a conductor unwilling to incorporate independent sections into a united sound.

In an orchestra, the conductor is responsible for facilitating solidarity, setting the cadence, and providing cues so that the players can perform with confidence. In Washington, we have seen the failure of leadership to unite diverse groups towards a common cause. Although each of our leaders should never be expected to play the same instrument, the political orchestra as a whole is responsible for producing an agenda that inspires a cohesive purpose for the American people. Unfortunately, the conductor has dropped his baton and fails to negotiate with different sections and the different players have ceased listening to each other. As a result, both domestic and global audiences are questioning the credibility of America’s position at the center of the political and economic stage especially since the breakdown of internal cooperation not only has domestic implications but global repercussions in the dimensions of finance, development and security.

The analogy of the conductor provides insight not only into the cause of the problem, but also several possible solutions. First, a good conductor initiates and maintains eye contact with players throughout a music piece. The lack of genuine, personal relationships on the Hill can be seen as avoiding eye-contact and exacerbating internal division. Our political conductor, President Barack Obama, must encourage and facilitate opportunities for members of Congress to not only build alliances, but also friendships so that trusting relationships will form the framework for effective negotiation and policy making.

Next, the increased polarization of the American government and society must be reversed. Media heightens polarization, as various channels are biased in highlighting only one view or perspective. American audiences must learn, as players in the orchestra do, to listen to one another in order to appreciate the full score and not only one set of instruments. Simultaneously, our media sources have a responsibility to share entire stories from a full spectrum of political viewpoints, not just politically charged snippets designed to further specific agendas.

Finally, the conductor must set the tone for the entire orchestra and instill confidence in his players by defining the environment in which the players perform. If the conductor himself expresses frustration with the inherent complexities of the task, then a negative tone is set for the entire orchestra. The conductor must never tire of persuading the players that despite their different vantage points on the stage, they must stay on the same sheet of music — that of serving the American people. Only then will the United States find a score that moves the audience to its feet and inspires a generation to step forward.

The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the position of the United States Military Academy, the Department of the Army, or the Department of Defense.